PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vili Ocvirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leo Rua is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ocvirk
vs
Rua

178 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vili Ocvirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leo Rua!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Ocvirk throws a head kick that misses.

Rua decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rua thows a huge punch but Ocvirk dodges it nicely.
Rua sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ocvirk keeps working.
Ocvirk is looking to control Rua's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ocvirk avoid being mounted?
Rua moves into full mount! Ocvirk won't be happy about that!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ocvirk is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rua looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rua is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rua scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ocvirk?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rua putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rua tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ocvirk is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rua controlling the pace for now.
Ocvirk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rua controlling the pace for now.
Ocvirk wants to control but Rua is having none of it.
Ocvirk is desperately trying to improve his position but Rua has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rua breaks from Ocvirk's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ocvirk is squirming around, avoiding Rua's attempts to control the action.
Rua lands a nice shot to the head.
Rua raining down hammerfists from mount.
Rua sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua working the ground and pound effectively.
Rua controlling from mount.
Rua prevents Ocvirk from getting the reversal.

Rua looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Rua controlling his opponent.
Rua prevents Ocvirk from getting the reversal.
Ocvirk tries to lock up and control but Rua gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rua tries to control but Ocvirk wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rua with the ground and pound from mount.
Ocvirk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua looking to control and managing it successfully.

Rua has control of Ocvirk's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ocvirk regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rua wants to control the pace but Ocvirk is squirming around nicely.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Rua is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ocvirk to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ocvirk shrugs it off.
Rua prevents Ocvirk from getting the reversal.
Ocvirk wants to hold on but Rua pushes him away.
Rua wants to control the pace but Ocvirk is squirming around nicely.

Rua looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rua controlling the pace for now.

Rua stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Ocvirk looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rua keeping control of the position.
Ocvirk is keen to just control but Rua is a slippery customer.
Rua trying to hold on to Ocvirk's head to control him but Ocvirk postures up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ocvirk throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Ocvirk looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rua is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ocvirk's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ocvirk's back!
Rua looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Rua looking for the choke but no joy.
Rua is trying to stick to Ocvirk's back but Ocvirk is turning into Rua. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rua's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ocvirk.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Ocvirk from controlling successfully.

Rua manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Rua drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ocvirk is breathing heavily.

Ocvirk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rua defends it easily.

Rua drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rua jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ocvirk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Ocvirk looking for a guillotine here but Rua defends easily.

Rua stands and steps away. Ocvirk gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.

Ocvirk is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rua is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ocvirk to the mat. Ocvirk regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rua stands up over Ocvirk, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rua is stalling in the full guard.
Rua advances position into side control!

Rua thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ocvirk wants to control but Rua postures up.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rua remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Ocvirk is trying to control Rua's posture but Rua avoids it.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ocvirk keeps working.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ocvirk is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Rua dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ocvirk leaves Rua with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ocvirk stuffs the takedown attempt from Rua. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Ocvirk throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ocvirk circles away.
Vili Ocvirk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Rua.
Ocvirk attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rua wants to clinch.
Vili Ocvirk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rua.
Ocvirk missing with a left hand there. Rua was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but Ocvirk shows good takedown defense.
Rua is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua avoids the head kick by Ocvirk.
Rua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ocvirk manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ocvirk defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
Ocvirk lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ocvirk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ocvirk as he jumps to the side.
Ocvirk is looking to slow Rua down with leg kicks.
Ocvirk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua shoots in and drives through. Ocvirk sprawls well.

Ocvirk gets a double leg takedown into Rua's guard.

Ocvirk is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rua trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ocvirk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ocvirk stands up out of Rua's guard for a moment - Rua manages to land a nice upkick.
Rua is trying to keep Ocvirk in close.
Ocvirk content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Leo Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ocvirk wants to pass the guard but Rua is keeping the position.
Ocvirk slips nicely into half guard.
Rua gets full guard.
Rua wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ocvirk tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Ocvirk stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
Ocvirk throws a big right hand that misses.

Ocvirk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ocvirk is fighting to break Rua's control of his arms but Rua is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ocvirk passes into half guard.
Rua is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ocvirk's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ocvirk's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ocvirk trying to control the position but Rua manages to sink in the hooks.
Ocvirk is keeping busy.
Rua slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Ocvirk tries to break free.

Rua is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ocvirk is defending well though. Rua let's go of the attempt for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ocvirk wants to get back to his feet.

Ocvirk showing good submission defense here.
Rua trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rua has the hooks in. Ocvirk is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Rua is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Rua connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Ocvirk to escape the position.
Ocvirk trying to control but not successfully.

Rua is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Ocvirk defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Rua scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Ocvirk is looking for a way out.
Ocvirk wants to control his opponent's hands but Rua gets his hands free.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ocvirk is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rua is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Ocvirk is defending well though. Rua let's go of the attempt for now.
Rua avoiding Ocvirk 's attempts to control his hands.
Good control from Rua.
Rua scores with punches from the back.
Ocvirk wants to control his opponent's hands but Rua gets his hands free.
Ocvirk is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rua is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Rua patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rua lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Ocvirk.
Rua controlling well, preventing Ocvirk from escaping the position.
Rua has good solid back control here.
Rua looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rua controlling the positon.

Rua patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ocvirk takes a big shot to the side of the head.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rua controlling the positon.
Rua trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ocvirk is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Leo Rua is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ocvirk is working hard here to advance position.
Ocvirk manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rua's guard. Nice work there by Ocvirk.
Ocvirk is looking to work some ground and pound but Rua has wrist control.

Rua has his foot on Ocvirk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ocvirk works his way back into a safe position though.
Rua controlling the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rua's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Vili Ocvirk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leo Rua hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Rua scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ocvirk is looking for a sweep.
Ocvirk wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rua controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ocvirk sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Leo Rua!
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Leo Rua!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Leo Rua!

Leo Rua wins by unanimous decision!